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Foundation Stick 203 dupes and alternatives Essence

Tan · Cool undertone

Closest shade match is the equivalent shade, scored on colour, depth and undertone only. Closest overall alternative is the most similar foundation overall, scored on shade match (55%), finish and visual result (25%), wear and performance (15%) and skin suitability (5%).

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Coverage

Finish

Formulation

Skin type

Preferences

Fragrance-free6No drying alcohol1Vegan4Cruelty-free2Oil-free3With SPF0Mineral0

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6 of 30

Only showing matches with medium coverage, in liquid form.

  • 6 matches have no formulation listed and are not shown.

Closest shade match: Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Blurring & Smoothing Foundation 26C Hero

The equivalent shade: scored on colour, depth and undertone only.

Your shade
Essence
203Change shade
Depth and undertone: Tan · Cool
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
Benefit Cosmetics
26C Hero
Depth and undertone: Tan · Cool
Finish and coverage: Natural · Medium coverage
Shade match
96out of 100
Colour
93
Depth
98
Undertone
100
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Best price
$47SephoraSephora
Costs $40.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

Closest overall alternative: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation Coconut 355

The most similar foundation overall: shade match 55%, finish and visual result 25%, wear and performance 15%, skin suitability 5%.

Your shade
Essence
203Change shade
Depth and undertone: Tan · Cool
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
The match
Maybelline
Coconut 355
Depth and undertone: Tan · Neutral
Finish and coverage: Matte · Medium coverage
Overall match
80out of 100
Shade (Shade match)
85
Finish (Finish & visual result)
100
Wear (Wear & performance)
40
Skin (Skin suitability)
40
Medium confidence· Digital matchWhy it matches
Match price
$11.99Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $5 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty · product price; shade not separately priced · lowest price $8.98 at Walmart

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

More matches

Show
Overall alternativesShade matchesRanked by the shade match: colour, depth and undertone only. Each row leads with its shade match; the overall match is beneath it.

Ranked by the shade match: colour, depth and undertone only. Each row leads with its shade match; the overall match is beneath it.

  1. #3 · Haus Labs

    Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation

    440 Medium Deep
    Overall 78
    $52SephoraSephoraCosts $45.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame cool undertoneSame medium coverage

    Differences: Natural rather than matte finishNot marketed for combination/oily skinContains drying alcohol

    Score details
    Shade match
    93
    Finish & visual result
    70
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    60

    Very close colour · Natural · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 2% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Natural rather than matte finish · Not marketed for combination/oily skin · Contains drying alcohol

    Retailer shade note: with cool undertones

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  2. #4 · Urban Decay

    Face Bond Self Setting Waterproof Foundation

    25
    Overall 76
    $40SephoraSephoraCosts $33.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishSame medium coverage

    Differences: Olive rather than cool undertoneNot marketed for dry/sensitive skinContains drying alcohol

    Score details
    Shade match
    81
    Finish & visual result
    89
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    60

    Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 5% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Olive rather than cool undertone · Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin · Contains drying alcohol

    Retailer shade note: medium deep olive

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  3. #5 · Urban Decay

    Face Bond Self Setting Waterproof Foundation

    28
    Overall 73
    $40SephoraSephoraCosts $33.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishSame medium coverage

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertoneNot marketed for dry/sensitive skinContains drying alcohol

    Score details
    Shade match
    75
    Finish & visual result
    89
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    60

    Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 5% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin · Contains drying alcohol

    Retailer shade note: medium deep warm peachy

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match
  4. #6 · Urban Decay

    Face Bond Self Setting Waterproof Foundation

    27
    Overall 72
    $40SephoraSephoraCosts $33.01 more

    Matches: Very close colourSame matte finishSame medium coverage

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertoneNot marketed for dry/sensitive skinContains drying alcohol

    Score details
    Shade match
    73
    Finish & visual result
    89
    Wear & performance
    40
    Skin suitability
    60

    Very close colour · Matte · Medium coverage

    Ingredients (not scored): 5% ingredient overlap

    Differences: Slightly warmer undertone · Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin · Contains drying alcohol

    Retailer shade note: medium deep warm peachy

    Medium confidence· Digital match

    View match

Looking for a concealer in your shade?

The closest shade to Essence Foundation Stick 203 (Tan · Cool undertone) in each concealer range, compared on measured colour, depth and undertone. Price never changes the order.

Closest concealers

  1. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer

    440C

    Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer, shade 440C

    • Very close colour
    • Tan · Neutral · neutral pink undertone

    $24

    SephoraView at Sephora
  2. L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer

    W9.5

    L'Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer, shade W9.5

    • Very close colour
    • Tan · Cool undertone

    $16.99

    Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty
  3. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Water-Resistant Concealer

    40.5 Deep

    IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Water-Resistant Concealer, shade 40.5 Deep

    • Close colour
    • Tan · Cool undertone

    $30

    SephoraView at Sephora
  4. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

    Hazelnut

    NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, shade Hazelnut

    • Close colour
    • Tan · Cool undertone

    $36

    SephoraView at Sephora
  5. Maybelline Fit Me Natural Finish Concealer

    050 Café

    Maybelline Fit Me Natural Finish Concealer, shade 050 Café

    • Very close colour
    • Tan

    $10.99

    Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty
  6. Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer

    Cinnamon

    Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer, shade Cinnamon

    • Very close colour
    • Tan

    $14.99

    Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

Concealer shade colours are sampled from retailer swatch images, so check the shade on the retailer page before buying.

Why the closest shade match works

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Blurring & Smoothing Foundation in 26C Hero, against Essence Foundation Stick in 203. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade203Closest shade match26C HeroScore
Shade match55% of overall96
Colour93#af7854#ae7b5cVery close colourColour difference 1.8 (0 is identical)
Depth98TanTanSameDepth difference: 1.1
Retailer descriptionMediumMedium tanSome differenceRetailer descriptions one depth band apart
Undertone100CoolCoolSamefrom retailer shade descriptions
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 3 of 4 compared70
Finish56MatteNaturalSome differenceNatural finish rather than matte
Coverage100MediumMediumSameSame medium coverage
Skin-like finishnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists a skin-like finish
Blurring40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a blurring or smoothing effect; your product does not list it
Wear & performance15% of overall · 2 of 5 compared40
Longevity40Not listed24-hour wearSome differenceThe match claims long wear; your product does not list it
Transfer resistancenot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists transfer resistance
Settlingnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists not settling into pores or fine lines
Colour stabilitynot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists colour stability (no oxidation)
Comfort40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a comfortable, lightweight feel; your product does not list it
Skin suitability5% of overall60
Skin type60Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveNormal, combination, oilyBoth marketed for combination/​normal/​oily skin
Overall match 79/100Shade match 96/100Medium confidence· Digital match

Weights are each part's share of the overall match and each attribute's share of its part; an attribute neither product lists is not comparable and its weight goes to the others in its part. Confidence reflects data quality, not similarity. Price and ingredients are not part of either score.

How scoring works

If you switch

To Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Blurring & Smoothing Foundation in 26C Hero.

Same or better

  • Very close colour
  • Same cool undertone
  • Same medium coverage
  • Claims a blurring effect
  • Claims 24-hour wear
  • Claims a lightweight feel

Different

  • Natural finish instead of matte
  • Not marketed for dry/sensitive skin

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

3 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 5%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest shade match
Basemoderate siliconeWater-based, high silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedNot listed
SPFNot listedNot listed
OverlapUnknown-based vs water-based; silicone moderate vs high
View full match

Why the closest overall alternative works

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation in Coconut 355, against Essence Foundation Stick in 203. Every attribute compared, with its share of the score.

ComparedYour shade203Closest overall alternativeCoconut 355Score
Shade match55% of overall85
Colour89#af7854#b5744bVery close colourColour difference 2.4 (0 is identical)
Depth99TanTanSameDepth difference: 0.6
Retailer descriptionMediumNot statedNo depth word in one descriptionNot compared
Undertone65CoolNeutralSome differencecandidate undertone inferred
Finish & visual result25% of overall · 2 of 4 compared100
Finish100MatteMatteSameSame matte finish
Coverage100MediumMediumSameSame medium coverage
Skin-like finishnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists a skin-like finish
Blurringnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists a blurring or smoothing effect
Wear & performance15% of overall · 2 of 5 compared40
Longevity40Not listed12-hour wearSome differenceThe match claims long wear; your product does not list it
Transfer resistancenot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists transfer resistance
Settlingnot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists not settling into pores or fine lines
Colour stabilitynot comparableNot listedNot listedNot claimed by eitherNeither product lists colour stability (no oxidation)
Comfort40Not listedClaimedSome differenceThe match claims a comfortable, lightweight feel; your product does not list it
Skin suitability5% of overall40
Skin type40Combination, dry, normal, oily, sensitiveNormal, oilyBoth marketed for normal/​oily skin
Overall match 80/100Shade match 85/100Medium confidence· Digital match

Weights are each part's share of the overall match and each attribute's share of its part; an attribute neither product lists is not comparable and its weight goes to the others in its part. Confidence reflects data quality, not similarity. Price and ingredients are not part of either score.

How scoring works

If you switch

To Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation in Coconut 355.

Same or better

  • Very close colour
  • Same matte finish
  • Same medium coverage
  • Claims 12-hour wear
  • Claims a lightweight feel

Different

  • Neutral rather than cool undertone
  • Not marketed for combination/dry/sensitive skin
  • Contains alcohol denat.

Ingredients (information only, not scored)

2 shared ingredients; weighted similarity 3%. Ingredients only affect results through the filters.

AttributeYour shadeClosest overall alternative
Basemoderate siliconeWater-based, high silicone
FragranceNot listedNot listed
Drying alcoholNot listedListed (alcohol denat.)
SPFNot listedNot listed
OverlapUnknown-based vs water-based; silicone moderate vs high
View full match

Where to buy

Closest shade match

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Blurring & Smoothing Foundation 26C Hero

Best price
$47SephoraSephora
Costs $40.01 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty

SephoraView at Sephora

Closest overall alternative

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation Coconut 355

Match price
$11.99Ulta BeautyUlta Beauty
Costs $5 more

Your shade $6.99 at Ulta Beauty · product price; shade not separately priced · lowest price $8.98 at Walmart

Ulta BeautyView at Ulta Beauty

How these matches are scored

30 similar shades scored two ways: the shade match on colour, depth and undertone; the overall match on shade match, finish and visual result, wear and performance and skin suitability. Ingredients are shown for information and used by the filters only. Prices are shown next to every match and never change a score. How scoring and confidence work.

Shade colours are sampled from Beautler’s processing of retailer swatch images and are a digital approximation. Prices and stock were last checked when the product was imported; the retailer page is the source of truth.